Control system



Aug. 4, 1936.

E. D. STIRLEN ET AL CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Dec. 26, 1930 g'wventozo Eves/vs D. ST/QLEN and CHARLES D. GEE/2,

Patented Aug. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,049,526- common srsrnuaugene n. Stirlen m1 Charles 1). Geer, New Engineering Haven, Conn., assignors to The and Research Corporation, New Haven, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Application December 26, 1930, Serial No. 501,132

' 40mm. (cam-saw) v which is provided with a lay-out of apparatus embodying thepresent invention, and the flow of traflic will have less liability of congestion than is otherwise-the case.

A-further-object of the invention is that of construction of an apparatus for use in connection with the control of traflic and by means of which, after the variable traiiic conditions existing at any particular point of installation have been determined, the apparatus may be set-to meet these conditions.

A still further object of the invention is that of furnishing a traflic control system in which, if

it is found that the conditions decided upon are not correct, or if these conditions vary, the parts may be adjusted so that the apparatus will function to give the best obtainable results.

-. Another object is that of furnishing an appar'atus of the character described, the parts'of which will be relatively few, in number'and individually simple and rugged in construction, these parts beingrgadily assembled, and when so assembled operating over long periods of time with freedom from mechanical and/or electrical difficulties;

Reference is had to the attached sheet of drawin'g illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and in which: Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically a lay-out of apparatus embodying a traflic control system, and w V Fig. 2 is an end view of one unit of such apparatus. a

In the foregoing figures, and the subsequent spects the present invention lends itself ideally for usein connection with a system including fixed cycle-timers, it is at this timeto be under- 55 stood that it may be employed in conjunction with various other types of systems and specifically traflic controlled systems.

' Moreover, as illustrated and described, the depicted form of the invention is to be applied at the intersection of two vehicular lanes in which, 5

at certain times of the day, there exists substantially equal traflic dignity, and, moreover, traffic of'a certain density, while at other times of the day the density remains equal in so far as the two lines are concerned, but the volume of traf- 10 fic increases; Additionally, for the sake of illustration, these lines are assumed at certain times of the day to have an unbalanced condition of traiiic density. In other words, during those times the first vehicle lane will have a relatively 15 small traiiic flow, while the second vehicle lane will have a relatively major traiilc flow. Ob-

viously, the conditions set forth are merely illustrative and might be varied, modified or ampli fied in many respects, without departing fromthe 20 spirit of this invention.

Thus, as in Fig. 1, there has been indicated in dotted lines streetsA and B. Signaling means is shown at-the point of intersection of such streets and has been indicated by the reference 25 numeral I. This signaling apparatus may embrace simply a lamp which displays, toward the approaches of the several streets, covered lenses, bulbs, and/or reflectors, the coloration of which 4 is' usually red and green, the former indicating 30 stop and the latter according right of way. Obviously, any suitable type of signaling means might be employed, the foregoing being merely the one usually utilized, and the simplest form. The go and stop signals of B street have been 5 indicated respectively by the reference letters' G and R. and the go and stop signals of A street have been indicated as G and R'" respectiveLv. A suitable source of electric current supply is connected with the leadslli and ii, 40

and the first lead is connected by a branch l2 to supply one side of the bulbs G, G, R, R.

At 2, 3 and 4 there have beensho three difierent timers, the construction of hich, however, is generally similar, with the exceptions 45 hereinafter noted.- These timers may each include a motor i3 which, by means of a drive shaft it, rotates a shaft l5. Considering, now,

. timers 2 and 4 for example, this shaft supports a contact segment l6 and an insulating segment I1, whichwiil be sequentially traversed by a stationary brush or wiping arm l8 as the shaft 15 rotates.- This brush is connected to one side of a magnet 19, the opposite side of which is connectedto a lead 20. r 1

An armature 2|, controlled by the magnet I9, is connected to the lead 22 when the magnet is not energized. This condition of the parts may be assured either by gravity or spring pressure, as may be deemed best. Whenattracted by the magnet IS, the armature 2| is connected to the lead 23. The armature 2| is, in turn, in series with a lead 24 which is connected to lead 25 coupled to one of the posts of the motor, while lead 26 is connected to lead 26 coupled with the second binding .post of the motor. Also, a lead 21 is provided which is connected to the lead 25 and to the contact segment l6. Thus, it will be obvious that if .current is supplied to leads 25,

-26, the motor '|3 will operate and as the seg ment l6 moves into engagement with the brush will flow to lead 22, thus energizing the bulbs R and G, with the result that right of wayis transferred in favor or A street.

The motor, or the drive therefor, oi. unit 2 is ments 6 and II are of equal length, it will, ac-

cordingly, be obvious that transfer of right oi. way will follow every thirty seconds, so long as current is supplied to leads 25, 26. The unit 3, which is otherwise generally similar to units 2 and'4, has a non-conducting segment 28 which extends throughout substantially two-thirds of the circumference, or path,'of the brush, and a 'to the unit 2, with the exception, however, that either the motor or the drive oi. this unit is so timed that only one-halt revolution per minute is made on the part of the conducting and non-' conducting segments. Accordingly, while right of way periods of equal intervals will occur in favor of A and]; streets, these right, oi. way periods will each be for a time interval of sixty seconds.

Now, with a view t'o-providing means which will control the supply of current to the several timer units, and accordingly control the operation of the system, attention is invited to the mechanism generally indicated at 5. 1 At this point the numerals 30 and 3| indicate electromagnets. The

former, when energized, attracts armatures 32 and 33 which are connected respectively to the leads Ill and II, and connectibleto the leads 25 and 26 of unit 2. Energization of this magnet 'also' attracts armatures 34 and 35, which are normally connected to leads 25, 26 of unit 3, and from which leads 36, 31 extend. Pofltion of the armatures, as shown in Fig. 1, is not only maintained as, for example, by gravity or the use of springs (not shown) but the magnet 3| controls the position of-armatures 38, 33, 46 and 4|; armatures 38 and 4| being connected-to lead l3,

' connection which comes into being between ar-' mr example, by use of set screws 5|.

and armatures 38 and 40 being connected to lead II. In the normal position of the parts, armatures 46, 4| are connected to leads 36, 31, and in view of the normal position of the armatures 34, 35, current usually flows from power supply 8 leads III, II to unit 3. However, upon energization of magnet 30, current flow to unit 3 is interrupted by the movement of armatures 34, 35, while current flow to unit 2 occurs incident to the connection or armatures 32, 33 to the leads 10 25, 2601' this unit. On the other hand, when magnet 3| is energized, current flow to unit 3 is interrupted by movement of the armatures 40, 4|, while current is supplied to unit 4 due to the matures 38, 38 and the leads 25, 26 of this unit.

In the controlling mechanism heretofore described, and generally indicated at 5, a governing unit of, for example, the nature. shown in the right-hand corner of Fig. 1 and indicated at 20 6, is employed. This maycomprise, as illustrated, a drum 42 rotatably mounted upon a shaft 43. This drum is or non-conducting material, but has a conducting wiper ring 44 engaged by a brush 45 which, through a lead 46, is connected 25 to the power supply II. The ring 44 has an elec-- trical connection with contact segment, or segments, 41 carried by the drum, and this segment preferably, but not necessarily, has a straight lead edge and a biased, or tangentially 30.

extending trailing edge, it being noted that the, segment may be removed and replaced by a segment of different configuration, it this is desired. Supporting rods 48, 49 extend adjacentto the drum and adjustably mount brushes or contact 35 members 50. It may be locked in position as,

These brushes may be of any desired type and, for example, spring-pressed (not shown), but in any event they contact with the plate 41 as the latter traverses their point, of mounting. The brushes or contact members are in electrical connection with leads 52, 53, as, for example, by having the rods of conducting material, and these leads extend toward, and-are connected to, the power lead "I, and have in series the magnets 30 and 3|, respectively. I

Any desired mechanism for controlling the movements of the drum may be employed. Such a mechanism may be, for example, an electric motor 54 which, by means of a suitable reduction drive (not shown) rotates the drum steadily once every twenty-four hours. The motor is supplied current through the lead 46 and the lead 55, which latter is connected to lead I!) as well as to the leads which supply armature-s 32, 35; 38 and 4 I In the example given, the street intersection has been classified as that type at which the following conditions occur. The flow or traflic during the greater part of the day is such that maximum 50 efllciency is gained by alternately giving right of way for forty seconds to A street and then for twenty seconds to B street, and repeating this cycle for the .number of hours which have previously been determined on. This would apply, 65

for example, from seven oclock in the evening 'traflic of the dayv might commence for both streets. While now the traihc may be of substan- 5 lon er period 0 right of way, ior example, sixty seconds. This condition will theoretically prevail until I P. M., at which time the operationwill revert to the initial condition set forth in the beginning of thismaragraph. Control of this nature will obviously follow for the reason that, as shown, current is being supplied the unit 3 to accord the forty-twenty second cycle heretofore referred to. when theplate 41 engages the contact I! 0! rod I, magnet is energized, thereby discontinuing the operation of unit 3 and initiating the operation or unit 2. This furnishes the thirty-thirty second cycle of operation. when plate 41 engages the brush or contact associated with'rod 49, current will flow through magnet it, thus disconnecting unit 3 and connecting" unit l for operation to iurnish the sixtysixty second cycle of operation. Obviously, by having the rods 0 and 49 adjustably mounted, as, i'or example, by-the arcuate slot construction indicated at it, in 2, the rods and brushes or contacts carried thereby may be shifted so as to have the periods begin at any desired, time.

this endvindicia 51' may be. provided so that the 4 value of the adjustment will readily be apparent.

.Moreover, it it is desired to lengthen the periods indicate the value of the adjustment provided.

As aiore brought out, the illustrated embodiof energiz'ation of either of the magnets III or ii,

this may be achieved by adjusting the brushes SI alongtherodsllorqts'oastoextendtothe desired point the peril: of energization, it being noted that this occ due to' the increasin width of the plate 41. I Also, the rods 48, 4.9 may be sub-divided in the manner, shown in order to ment or. the invention is diagrammatic and for the purpose of showing one form which the inven- 7 tion may take. It is obvious that the number of units or sub-units controllable might be varied,

according tothe needs of the installation. that the time control of these unitsmight also be changed. and that the features of the present invention might be employedgin connection with virtually any desired type otltraflic control sys tem, or in other installations where the invention might be of value, and that the structural details areaubject to rearrangement and recons'truction, as may be deemed expedient to the needs of the installation, all of which may occur without departing from the scope of the invention asdeflnedbythe claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,- is:

'1. Ina tralllc control system, signaling means for according and interrupting right of way,*a

" plurality o! timers connectible to said signaling means and each when connected functioning to cause the display of said signaling means in accordance with a plan difl'ering irom' those of the other timers. and constantly and automati- 'cally acting control means common toall of said timerstime-controlied to selectively couple 7 other timers; saidtimerstosaidsignalingmeans'inapro-- cycle in which one oi said timers has a two-oi the other timers. said control means by a single adjustment to betweenthosect meanstorvarying' period or operation al v45 the relative lengths of successive periods of said one oi said timers "while the sum oi said 5 successive periods remains constant.. I

- 2. In a traiiic controlsystem, signaling for according and'interrupting right of way; a

plurality of v means and each when connected stantly operating time-controlled switch meehanism for operating saidswitching means to eii'ect successive connections and disconnections of said timers, said switching means including one relay means operating when energized to connect one of said timers, another relay means operating when energized to disconnect said one of said timers and to connect another 611 said timers, the two relay means being arranged when both are. deenergized to disconnect the last two mentioned timers and to connect a' third timer. y 25 3. In a traflic control system, signaling means for. according and'interrupting right of way, aplurality of timers connectible to said signalingmeans and each whenconnected functioning to 5 tioned timer and connect another'timer, said twoswitching means being arranged when both are de-energized to disconnectthe last two mentioned timers andto connect a third timer, and o constantly I operating time-controlled switching mechanism for sequentially operating said first and second named switching means in a program inwhich, both of said switching means are deenergized between periods of alternate energiz'a- 45 tion of said iirst and second switching means.

4. In a traffic control system, signal ing means for according andinterrupting right 0! way, a plurality of timers connectible to said signaling means and each when connected functioning to 5 cause the display of said signaling means in ac cordancewith a plan diflerlng from those of the other timers, constantly and automatically acting control means common to all of said timers and time-controlled to selectively couple said time to said signaling mea'nsin a program cycle in w ch'on'e of said timers has a period of operation alternating between those oi two of the other timers, and means for varying said control means by a single adjustment to vary the relative lengths of successive pjeriods'oi! said one o! said timers and means for separately adjusting the lengths of the periods of operation ot-the "EUGENE n.

chairmen-Gena.- 

